FG Revamps Agricultural Education to Strengthen Food Systems

News in Brief:

-The Federal Government has introduced new reforms to modernise agricultural education and bridge the skills gap among Nigerian youth.

-The initiative aims to boost food security, promote agribusiness, and attract more young people into practical and technology-driven farming.

The Federal Government has unveiled reforms to modernise agricultural education across Nigeria, a move aimed at boosting food security and creating jobs for young Nigerians.

Speaking during the official presentation of the Agricultural Curriculum Framework Reform in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the new policy marks 'a turning point' in aligning classroom learning with modern agriculture.

He explained that the initiative supports President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a technology-driven agricultural sector, adding that Nigeria must prepare graduates who can 'lead innovation from farm to factory.'

“Our goal is to make agricultural education a solid pillar for national development,” Alausa said.

Declining Interest in Agricultural Courses

The minister expressed concern over the sharp drop in enrolment for agricultural programmes across universities and colleges, despite the sector’s huge potential.

According to him, data from the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) revealed that 47.92 per cent of available admission slots for agricultural courses were left unfilled.

“In the last three years, thousands of spaces have remained vacant. This is worrisome for a sector that holds the key to our food security and export ambitions,” he said.

Young Nigerians Prefer Hands-On Training

While university enrolment has dipped, more Nigerian youth are turning to vocational and technical training in agriculture.

Recent data from the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme showed over 900,000 applications, with 210,000 applicants choosing livestock farming.

“This clearly shows that young Nigerians are eager for practical agricultural skills,” Alausa noted. “The problem lies in our outdated curriculum that has failed to evolve with modern farming realities.”

Linking Education with Industry

Dr Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to revamping the agricultural curriculum to meet current industry needs. The updated framework, he said, will focus on hands-on learning, agritech, climate-smart agriculture, and agribusiness management.

He cited the Republic of Benin’s success in cotton processing as an example Nigeria can learn from.

“Benin moved from earning about $500 million in raw cotton exports to $12 billion in processed cotton products, employing over 25,000 young people,” he said. “We can achieve similar success if we align education with our value chains.”

Building a Path to Food Sovereignty

Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, stressed that achieving food sovereignty requires a strong link between education and enterprise.

“To ensure food security, we must train people who can turn agricultural knowledge into viable businesses,” Abdullahi said. “Our graduates must not only know theory but be ready to innovate and produce.”

He added that Nigeria’s agricultural future depends on a new generation of trained, tech-savvy farmers who understand sustainability, processing, and markets.

Why It Matters

Experts say that aligning agricultural education with industry realities will help produce a workforce capable of driving agribusiness, boosting productivity, and reducing post-harvest losses.

If effectively implemented, the new reforms could empower youth, attract investment into the sector, and move Nigeria closer to its goal of achieving food security and self-sufficiency.